gkumar wrote:
Regarding the first essay, I see that each of the three-four subquestions have a 300 word limit for a total of 900-1200 words, greater than the usual 500 to 750 words. However, when answering these subquestions, I noticed that I am averaging only 150-225 words per subquestion. To reach 300 words per section, I will have to provide significantly more detail than I have in my other applications.
Have people filled out their answers to reach the 300 word maximum? Is it acceptable to be only at 2/3s of the limit and answer the question concisely? I am unsure of the optimal strategy here. Advice here would be awesome.
Hmm, being 30% under is definitely low. I'm currently over 30% in each of the three sections, trying to whittle it down to just 10% over.
https://mbastudio.net/tag/word-limit/Can you go under the limit? Similarly, I advise clients not to go less than -5% on any essay. In one sense, like all professional communicators, I believe strongly in “say what you have to say; say it once, strongly and clearly and then stop talking.” This is the royal road to more powerful communications. Certainly there’s no merit in padding, wafffling, and repeating yourself. But admissions essays are relatively short pieces of writing, and you — if you merit a place at a top b-school — are a multifaceted, talented individual with an valuable track record, and if you can’t find things to say to take up the word count this in itself flags that you have not been able to (or haven’t bothered to) properly investigate your own motivations or fully argue your merits.